1. Could Pentecostalism be catering to the contemporary cultural quest for a spiritual experience by promoting extravagant divine encounters as the normative trajectory of Christianity? For example, are we simply giving them what they want when our slogans invite people to come for a worship experience?
2. Have we perhaps unintentionally restricted the work of the Holy Spirit by focusing almost exclusively on Spirit baptism as a personal and private experience to the neglect of the Spirit’s global and cosmic work?
3. Why do we continue to maintain loyalty to the fundamentalist and neo-fundamentalist emphasis on anti-intellectualism and the notion that ‘faith seeking understanding’ will inevitably lead to a dead faith? Why do we believe that the terms are fundamentally (no pun intended) at odds with one other?
4. Why have we so consistently embraced and elevated many Christian leaders to the status of celebrity, even after they promote ideas that are not reflected in the intent and overall witness of scripture?
5. Why is it that we have so often sustained a lone ranger or wonder woman spirituality that ignores the New Testament focus on community and mutuality, which in turn creates isolation and elitism?
6. Why have we so consistently viewed spiritual gifts as private possessions to be showcased, rather than grace gifts (charismata); expressions of the Spirit that point to and provide glimpses of the in-breaking of God’s kingdom and loving reign on earth?
7. Why have we been so recently enamored with power, victory, wealth, and status? Has this focus anything to do with our misunderstanding of Spirit baptism as a power-only encounter, coupled with an over-realized eschatology that expects the fullness of the kingdom now?
8. How can we claim to have a robust experience of the Spirit while at the same time lacking a more fully developed biblical and theological understanding of the Spirit? What controls our experience if our theology of the Spirit is weak and based more on popular ideas than the witness of scripture?
9. Why do we so consistently seek spiritual experiences that center on power encounters while downplaying the normal and everyday activities of life? Where do we spend the vast majority of our time? If we isolate God’s activity only to the extravagant, will we potentially miss countless opportunities to connect with God in the mundane?
10. Why do Pentecostals, who claim to have a unique experience of the Spirit, have just as many affairs, divorces, and other moral failures as do non-Pentecostals? Don’t you think Pentecostals owe us some explanation of why their unique experience of the Spirit makes no apparent difference to their characters? (This question came from my Facebook/Twitter request for questions others may have for Pentecostals. Thanks, Tom Belt).
What questions do you have? Comments, concerns, commendations?
This post has been included in my Pentecostal-Charismatic Series. For more related articles, please click here.
July 14, 2012 at 8:18 am
Why do we insist on the embodied spirituality of Holy Spirit baptism, but resist the paraphysical presence of Christ & Spirit in the sacraments?
July 14, 2012 at 8:22 am
Dan, I love this question. If Christ is present to all at all times through the Spirit, why limit the work of the Spirit to Spirit baptism? The sacraments surely must be more than a mere remembrance. Thanks for sharing.
July 14, 2012 at 8:35 am
Great set of questions. Growing up in the Pentecostal Movement I’ve encountered some that would want to revoke my “Pentecostal Card” for asking questions like this. But if we believe it to be true then shouldn’t it stand up to the scrutiny? If it doesn’t stand up to an honest question and journey for truth…is it true or just mere creation of our american religious system? Thanks so much for posting.
July 14, 2012 at 9:56 am
I agree, Ryan. When we ask the hard questions, we provide opportunity for conversation, learning and growth. It may make us feel uncomfortable at times, especially if we fear it may shake up our theology, but if our beliefs can’t sustain serious questions we may need to rethink those beliefs.
Thanks for your comment.
July 14, 2012 at 8:18 pm
As Roger Olson says, the unexamined faith is not worth believing.
July 14, 2012 at 10:04 am
Important questions Jeff!
Here is a good response http://enrichmentjournal.ag.org/200501/200501_071_BaptismHS.cfm/
July 14, 2012 at 11:03 am
Thanks, Kevin. I’ll review it soon.
July 14, 2012 at 11:42 am
Jeff! Number 10 is interesting. Why is it such a problem? Why are so many Pentecostal ministers falling to moral failures (and it doesn’t matter what level of ministry the person is in, or if they are a lead pastor, if their church was “mega,” large, or small)? I might like to suggest (besides the fact that we are *all* prone to deep level sinfulness) maybe many in Pentecostal circles may not be as Pentecostal as we claim to be. If may suggest I see more and more of us sorts of “evangelicostals” or even “bapticostals” with the “costal” being minimally emphasized. I don’t know, no easy answers to this one besides the possible standard ones of lack of a solid prayer/devotional life, minimal Bible reading, poor accountability (and lack of a safe way to share struggles common to man but often not allowed to be an issue for “ministers” (even though we are all ministers in some way) because they are not supposed to have *that* problem, and so on) burnout and more… (sorry for the rambling response). :-)
July 15, 2012 at 1:38 am
I was thinking about this the other day. and wondering if a charismatic ethic, is easy prey for our sinful desires when it is not rooted in scripture. An inherent “what I feel lead to do” is more important than written directives.
July 15, 2012 at 10:01 am
These are good questions, I suppose. As we all venture our thoughts, sincerely, I hope we will purpose to ask the Lord, by humbly seeking His face, and then hearing what He says. It seems the hallmark of the Pentecostal movement is that for our part, we are committed to be people of the Spirit AND people of the Word.
July 15, 2012 at 12:15 pm
hi jeff-
truthfully, these questions no longer interest me. granted they have some bearing on the present and future of the paoc – but that may interest me even less :) i suspect that all movements serve a purpose and are not necessarily meant to last forever. the good work pentecostals have done is something to be proud of and thankful for, and if this is the last turn before it ends or turns into something else, so be it. if the movement is still viable for another season, then i suppose its leaders are responsible for facing into these realities with the hope of bringing order.
all that said, i’m guessing that the shelf life of denominations like this are about to expire. i think that we’re moving towards an ecumenical world of networks: churches and organizations loosely tied by common interests while accepting of differing distinctives.
July 16, 2012 at 9:52 pm
Thanks for the post, Joe. Good food for thought.
July 16, 2012 at 9:50 pm
Hey Jeff, I think it would be great if you would elaborate on these points individually. With regard to #10, there are multiple reasons why there is a “disconnect” between “character and gift”, “power and purity”, etc. And I don’t think the disparity is limited to pentecostals. Maybe your “questions” could also incorporate some solutions to the present crisis in North American Pentecostalism. Are you including charismatics and people involved in current “renewal” movements? Many of my colleagues now hold graduate and post-graduate degrees from Fuller, Rosemead, and other credible and reputable institutions. I would love for your to be more specific and make sure these questions are still current issues. In my “stream”, some of these questions are no longer relevant. We’re making lots of progress here. Thanks, Jeff
July 16, 2012 at 10:03 pm
Hey Jeff, are you including charismatics and current renewal movements when you ask these questions? We’ve made a lot of progress and matured in each of these areas I think. it would be could if you could elaborate a bit more and be more specific. The renewal movement I am currently involved in has embraced a more holistic spirituality with a more communal emphasis as well. Still believing and contending for the miraculous, but upgrading our paradigms and theology. Great shifts are occurring!
July 16, 2012 at 10:04 pm
Sorry, that was poorly written lol
July 17, 2012 at 8:14 am
Mike,
My primary focus group would be Pentecostals, and to a lesser degree, Charismatic groups. No question or description would completely characterize every group within each stream, but these are generalizations, based on observations, that in one way or another continue to capture the primary areas of concern.
More and more Pentecostals in Canada are attending a variety of graduate theological programs, so there is hope for a wide and sweeping changes in the movement overall. However, what happens in the academy doesn’t always find its way into the pew, for a host of reasons.
Thanks for your comment!
Jeff
July 23, 2012 at 6:36 pm
Great list of questions and weaknesses in the historical (and modern) Pentecostal movement.
July 23, 2012 at 6:47 pm
Thanks. Now we all need to search for responses that make a positive impact.
July 23, 2012 at 9:31 pm
Amen brother… as the saying goes, learn from the past, but don’t live it.
October 29, 2012 at 8:01 pm
Excellent questions Jeff. # 10 is particularly compelling and demands attention as Pentecostals. Keep the discussion going! I’ll be interested in getting in on it.
October 29, 2012 at 9:19 pm
BTW, I just posted an article on my blog that you might find useful as it relates to this topic http://www.morethancake.org/archives/3787